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A WOMAN'S EXAMPLE:

AND

A NATION'S WOKK.

A TRIBUTE

TO

FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON :

WILLIAM EIDGWAY, 169, PICCADILLY.

1864:

DI

THE LIBRARY

OF

THE UNIVERSITY

OF CALIFORNIA

LOS ANGELES

GIFT OF

DR. AND MRS. ELMER BELT

A WOMAN'S EXAMPLE:

AND

A NATION'S WOEK.

A TRIBUTE

TO

FLOEENCE laGHTmGALE.

WILLIAM EIDGAVAT, 169, PICCADILLY.

1864.

i

DEDICATION. f

\^i,^

Florence Nightingale,

Tour name, throughoub the world, is synonymous AAith mercy, faith, and love. Where man has hesitated, you have resolved: when his courage has quailed, yours has surmounted every difficulty : where pestilence and death have stalked around, visibly and invisibly, you have chosen your abode : your hands have soothed the tortures of thousands, and your whispers calmed the groans of the suffering into prayer and blessing. To you, — the Guardian Angel of the Sick, the boast of England and the pride of our common humanity, — I dedicate these pages !

All that is herein chronicled, you have a right to claim as the result of your own work. The seed sown by your hands in the Field of Aceldama has sprung up a goodly tree, whose branches may soon cover the whole earth : and when, in God's own time, the nations shall learn war no more, humanity will look back to your life of faith, mercy, and love, as the bright dawn-star of a better time, the harbinger of peace and good-will to come.

Would that I had the power towrite as such deeds should be written ! Yet where the need? The story of your labours stands for ever sculptured in the en- during adamant of fact, and God the Omnipresent and Omniscient can alone decide the vylue of such a life as yours.

The Author. London, April 16th, 1864.

A NATION'S WORK.

CHAPTER I.

WOMAN IN THE CRIMEA.

England's greatest glory in the bloody fields of the Crimea was achieved by a woman ; and that woman's deeds will be held in remembrance when the memory of Inkermann, the Alma, and the terrible charge of tlie famous " Six Hundred" have faded into oblivion.

Florence Nightingale solved a problem which had long been a mystery ; and, where she first led the way, men by thousands are now seeking to follow her. Good is far more prolific than Evil. Like most problems when the solution is discovered, the one in question proved to be remarkable for its simplicity ; but it required the heart of a true woman to discover the solution, and woman's single-mindedness

6

and self-reliance to carry out the work. Since man invented War^ the sick and wounded of armies have, doubtless^ been nursed and cared for; but they were cared for and nursed as soldiers — to be shot at and cut down when con- valescent^ not as men having a right to the life which God had breathed into them. '^ Soldier,'' said man^ '' you cannot have the comforts and the care of ^ Home' on the grim fields of war :" " Man/^ said this brave true woman, "where I am is ' Home ;' I bring with me its comforts and its care to the battle-field and camp, and all a mother^s love shall tend your aching brow and stanch the oozing blood/' Thus an angel came and ministered unto him.

PROJECT or A GENERAL EUROPEAN SANITARY COMMISSION.

The seed of example sown by Florence ^Nightingale fell upon stony ground but into a fruitful soil. Appalled by the fearful carnage and disease of the Italian campaign, and pro- fiting by the labours and success of our coun- trywoman, Monsieur Henri Dunant, a citizen of Geneva, has devoted his time and abilities to

1

tlie extension of Florence Nightingale's work over the entire continent of Europe. After many months of correspondence, which must have been enormous, he succeeded in drawing together in an International Congress at the City of Geneva representatives from all the principal European nations. The Conference assembled on the 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th October of last year, and the following countries were repre- sented in it : Austria, Baden, Bavaria, France, Great Britain (represented by Dr. Rutherford, Inspector General of H ospitals, by authority of the Secretary of Vv^ar ; and in addition our Consul at Geneva), Hanover, Hesse, Holland, Italy, Prussia, Russia, Saxony, Spain, Sweden, "VYurtemberg, and the Swiss Confederation. It is no part of my task to discuss the proceed- ings of this Conference, especially as its action has not yet extended beyond the bounds of suggestion ; but I may be permitted to remark that danger exists of attempting too much, and thereby accomplishing nothing. Any inter- ference, no matter how remote, with the legitimate medical authority of armies, will cer- tainly be resented by the latter ; discipline in

field and camp must at all times take precedence of Immanitarian considerations; whilst aid thus proffered should always be regarded as supple- mental to that of the medical staff and tendered under its auspices alone. The official character of the delegates to the Geneva Congress, how- ever much calculated to give authority to the deliberations, will not, to many thoughtful minds, promise a favourable result ; for when Governments take such a matter in hand, the people generally consider there is little need of their assistance. The medical staffs of armies may, too, regard the proposal as a reflection upon themselves, — as an assumption of their incompetency; and many months of experience to the contrary will be necessary ere the two bodies could work harmoniously together. But the most questionable feature of all is the exclusion of vfomen from the deliberations and action of the Congress. The chamber of the sick and suffering is Woman^s own domain, and Man, with the best intentions, can never be so useful there as she.

The grand scheme of Henri Dunant is only in its incipiency : let us hope that he and his

fellow philanthropists will study the lessons given hy others^ and work out with glorious success a project which has the good of humanity for its sole object.

10 A woman's example.

CHAPTER II.

THE UNITED STATES SANITARY COMMISSION.

Turn we now to the far distant shores of the American Continent, — to those gory battle- fields where tens of thousands of fathers, bro- thers, sons, lie writhing in agony, and the hurriedly buried corpses impest the blackened plains. No war of ancient or modern times has seemed to us so horrible; day after da}' for three long years, the agony has been intensified, and the writers of all Europe have striven to excel each other in describing the accumulated horrors. Sovereigns from their thrones, states- men in the senate, ministers in the temple, all alike bewail the loD":-continued fratricidal

V

strife ; until the nations of the Old World have settled firmly in the belief that the story of this war is but one dreary chronicle of bloodshed, ruin and despair, without a single redeeming trait of benevolence and charity.

Strange that the evil should all be known,

A NATIO?^ S WORK. 11

and only the good remain concealed ! Yet amid all this wide-spread desolation^ true hearts have beaten responsively to the cries of woe ; and loving women and noble men have achieved a work which Europe never has attempted on such a wondrous scale. As Enghshmen, we must take pride in their success, for are not these Americans our own flesh and blood ; and have they not profited in their labours by the example set before them in the Crimean and Indian wars?

With the causes and objects of the interne- cine contest which burst upon the American Continent after the bombardment of Fort Sum- ter, we have nothing whatever to do. All that I profess, or desire to deal with in these pages is the work of humanity — the labour of love initiated by women, organized by them on the grandest scale ever attempted and successfully carried out ; and by setting forth in as succinct and intelligible a manner as to me is possible their intentions, plans and achievements, to lead others by their example to establish simi- lar organizations, and to effect the same results. This is neutral ground for all the children of

J 2 A woman's example.

tlie human family ; politics have no place in this discussion ; and he must indeed be lost to every sense of benevolence who will not admire the courage with which these women have sur- mounted every difficulty^ or who refuses to wish them God-speed in their mission of mercy and love.

THE WOMEN INITIATE THE MOVEMENT.

When the men of Northern and Southern States alike were hurrying to war in the spring of 1861, the women of the North felt, by in- stinct as it were, that work must be done by those who, on account of their sex, had to re- main at home. Their action first took the ground of supplying the medical department of the army v.ith lint and bandages ; and the churches, school-rooms, and many of the wealthiest private residences of the larger cities, were filled daily with women of all classes and ages, scraping, cutting, folding and pack- ing the linen they had brought with them. But their womanly wit told them there must be a far wider field for their benevolence and skill than in this restricted arena ; and having

A nation's work. 13

formed themselves into the ''' AVoman's Central Association of Relief of New York/' and simi- lar organizations elsewhere, they decided upon asking advice from gentlemen who, by their experience and position in society, would be likely to give full scope to their efforts. There- upon, a clergyman of the City of New York, whose name had long been known in connec- tion with charitable objects, gave them this practical advice : — " You want inquiry from the only correct sources. You must find out first what the Government will do and can do, and then help it by working iviih it and doing what it cannot. You must have advice derived from the Government." The counsel thus given was immediately acted upon ; and the clergy- man in question, the Rev. Dr. Henry W. Bel- lows, in conjunction with three of the principal Physicians of New York, Drs. Van Buren, Harris, and Harsen, were empowered to visit Washington for the purpose of conferring with the Secretary of War. The four delegates were similarly authorized by two other promi- nent and influential bodies, namely, the Ad- visory Committee of the Boards of Physicians

14

and Surgeons of the Hospitals of New York, and the 'New York Medical Association for furnishing Hospital Supplies in aid of the Army. In the name of these three Commit- tees^ the delegates presented the following address to the Secretary of War, on the 18th of May, 1861 :—

" To THE Secretary of War :

" Sir, — The undersigned, representing three associations of the highest respectability in the City of New York, — namely, the Woman's Central Association of Relief for the Sick and Wounded of the Army, the Advisory Committee of the Boards of Physicians and Surgeons of the Hospitals of New York, the New York Medical Association for furnishing Hospital Supplies in aid of the Army,— beg leave to address the Department of War in behalf of the objects committed to them as a mixed delegation with due credentials.

" These three associations, being engaged at home in a common object, are acting together with great efficiency and harmony to contribute towards the comfort and security of our troops, by methodizing the spontaneous benevolence of the city and State of New York ; obtaining information from the public authorities of the best methods of aiding your De- partment with such supplies as the regulations of the Army do not provide, or the sudden and pressing necessities of the time do not peraiit the Department to furnish; and, in general, striving to play into the hands of the regular authorities in ways as efficient and as little embarrassing as extra-official co- operation can be.

*»*♦**

'* It must be well kncmi to the Department of War that several such Commissions foUon-cd the Crimean and Indian wars. The civilization and humanity of the age, and of the American people demand that such a Commission should pi^e- eede our second War of Independence — more sacred than the

A nation's work. 15

first. We wish to prevent the evils that England and France could only investigate and deplore. The war ought to be waged in a spirit of the highest intelligence, humanity, and tenderness for the health, comfort, and safety of our brave troops. And every measure of the Government that shows its sense of this will be eminently popular, strengthen its hands, and redound to its glory at home and abroad.

" The undersigned are charged with several distinct peti- tions, additional to that of asking for a Commission for the purposes above described, although they would all fall under the duties of that Commission.

" 1 . They ask. that the Secretary of War w^ill order some new rigour in the inspection of volunteer troops, as they are persuaded that, under the present State regulations through- out the country, a great number of under-aged and unsuitable persons are mustered, who are likely to swell the bills of mor- tality in the army to a fearful per-centage, to encumber the hospitals and embarrass the columns.

" The Committee represent that the Woman's Central Association of Kelief have selected, and are selecting, out of several hundred candidates, one hundred women, suited in all respects to become nurses in the general hospitals of the army. These women the distinguished physicians and surgeons of the various hospitals in New York have undertaken to educate and drill in a most thorough and laborious manner ; and the Committee ask that the War Department consent to receive, on wages, these nurses, in such nvmibers as the exigencies of the campaign may require. It is not proposed that the nurses should advance to the seat of war until directly called for by the Medical Bureau here, nor that the Government should be at any expense until they are actually in service.

******

*' It is believed that a Commission would bring these and other matters of great interest and importance to the health of the troops into the shape of easy and practical adojition. But if no Commission is appointed the Committee pray that the Secretary will order the several suggestions made to be carried into immediate effect, if consistent with the laws of the Department, or possible without the action of Congress.

16

" Feeling themselves directly to represent larg-e and irajwr- tAnt constituencies, and, indirectly, a wide-spread and com- manding public sentiment, the Committee would most respect- fully urge the mmiediatc attention of the Secretary to the objects of their prayer. ; " Very respectfullj-,

" Henry W. Bellows, D.D.

" W. H. Van Bueen, M.D.

■" Elisha Hakris, M.D.

'^ J. Harsex, M.D."

Thus commenced an association which has since developed into what is now known as ^^ The United States Sanitary Commission ;*' an association whose operations extend over an area almost as large as the continent of Europe, and whose voluntary contributions to suffering humanity have, in less than three years' time, nearly reached the enormous sum of Two Mil- lions of pounds sterling in value.

STRUGGLES FOR RECOGNITION.

Nothing, it would seem, could be more rea- sonable and respectful than such a memorial ; and yet the representatives of these influential and patriotic bodies were not_, at first, favoura- bly regarded by the authorities. Routine, however necessary in government afiairs, is never disposed to listen to suggestions; and

A NATION^S WORK. I J

we need not be surprised that President Lin- coln, with his grim capacity for getting off the most pointed jokes, should describe the pro- posed Commission— as '' a fifth wheel to the military coach/' The authorities of the War Department and, more especially, of the Medi- cal Bureau of the Army received the proposals with almost unqualiaed disfavour; but the women of the country had set their minds and hearts upon carrying out the work, and when did man carry his point against woman ?

Four days subsequent to the presentation of the above memorial, Dr. E. C. Wood, Actin- Surgeon- General of the United States Army, expressed the following opinion in a communi- cation to the Secretary of War :—

"The Medical Bureau, would in my judgment, derive im- portant and useful aid from the counsels and well-directed efforts of an intelligent and scientific Commission, to be styled ' A Commission of Inquiry and Advice in respect of the Sani- tary Interests of the United States' Forces/ and acting in cooperation with the Bureau, in elaborating and applving Tuch facts as might be elicited from the experience and^nore ex- tended observation of those connected with armies, with re- ference to the diet and hygiene of troops, and the organisation of mihtary hospitals,"

Taking hold of the friendly hand thus held out to them, the four delegates lost no time,

18 A woman's example.

but forwarded the very next day to the Secre- tary of War the following statement of powers requested and objects designed by the Com- mission.

"The Medical Bureau of the United States Army having asked for the appointment of a Sanitary Commission, in aid of its own overtasked energies, the Committee of the New York Delegation to the Government on Sanitary Affairs beg leave, at the request of the Medical Bureau, and as ex- planatory of its wishes, to state what precise fowers are sought by the proposed Commission, and what specific objects are aimed at."

POWERS DEMANDED OF THE GOVERNMENT.

" The Commission being organized for the purposes only of inquiry and advice, asks for no legal powers, but only the ofl&cial recognition and moral countenance of the Govern- ment, which will be secured by its public appointment. It asks for a recommendatory order, addressed in its favour to all olhcers of the Government, to further its inquiries ; for permission to correspond aj;id confer, on a confidential footing, with the Medical Bureau and the War Department, proffer- ing such suggestions and counsels as its investigation and studies may, from time to time, prompt and enable it to offer.

" 2. The Commission seeks no pectmiary remtmerationjrom the Governvienf. Its motives being humane and patriotic, its labours will be its own reward. The assignment to them of a room in one of the public buildings, with stationery and other necessary conveniences, would meet their expectations in this direction.

" 3. The Commission asks leave to sit through the war, either in Washington, or when and where it may find it most convenient and useful ; but it will disband should experience render its operations embarrassing to the Government, or less necessary and useful than it is now supposed they will prove.''

39

OBJECTS OF THE PROPOSED COMMISSION.

" The general object of the Commission is, through sugges- tions reported from time to time to the Medical Bureau and the War Department, to bring to bear upon the health, com- fort and morale of our troops, the fullest and ri; est teachings of sanitary science in its application to military life, whether deduced from theory or practical observation, from general hygienic principles, or from the experience of the Crimean, the East Indian, and the Italian wars. Its objects are purely advisory.

" The specific points to which its attention would be directed may here be partly indicated, but in some part may depend upon the course of events, and the results of its own obser- vations and promptings, when fairly at work. If it knew precisely what the results of its own inquiries would be, it would state them at once, without asking for that authority and those governmental facilities essential to a successful investigation of the subject. As the Government may select its own Commissioners, — the persons named in the recom- mendation of the Medical Bureau being wholly undesirous, however wilUng, to serve, if other persons more deserving of the confidence of the Government and of the public can be nominated, — it is hoped that the character of the Commission will be the best warrant the Government can have that the inquiries of the Commission, both as to their nature and the manner of conducting them, will be pursued with discretion and a careful eye to avoiding impertinent and offensive inter- ference with the legal authority and official rights of any of the bureaus with Avhich it may be brought in contact."

SPECIFICATION OF OBJECTS.

" 1. Materiel of the Volunteers. — The Commission proposes a practical inquiry into the material of the volunteer force, with reference to the laws and usages of the several States in the matter of inspection, with the hope of assimilating their regulations with those of the army proper, alike in the ap- j)ointment of medical and other officers and in the rigorous application of just rules and principles to recruiting and in- spection laws. This inquiry Avould exhaust every topic ap-

20 A woman's example.

pertaining to the original materiel of the anny, considered as a subject of sanitary and medical care.

*' 2. Prevention. — The Commission would inquire with scientific thoroughness into the subject of diet, cooking, cooks, clothing, tents, camping grounds, transports, transitory depots, Avith their exposures, camp police, with reference to settling the question, How far the regulations of the Army proper are or can be practically carried out among the volunteer regiments, and what changes or modifications are desirable from their peculiar character and circumstances ? Everything appertaining to outfit, cleanliness, precautions against damp, cold, heat, malaria, infection ; crude, unvaried, or ill-cooked food, and an in-egular or careless regimental commissariat would fall under this head.

" 3. Relief. — The Commission would inquire into the or- ganization of military hospitals, general and regimental ; the precise regulations and routine through which the ser- vices of the patriotic women of the country may be made available as nurses ; the nature and sufliciency of hospital supplies ; the method of obtaining and regulating all other extra and unbought supplies contributing to the comfort of the sick ; the question of ambulances and field service, and of extra medical aid ; and whatever else relates to the care, relief, or cure of the sick and wounded — their investigations being guided by the highest and latest medical and military experience, and carefully adapted to the nature and wants of our immediate army, and its peculiar origin and circum- stances,"

It would appear from these offers to the Go- vernment^ that the proposed Sanitary Commis- sion must turn out, after all, a very harmless and well-meaning body. So perhaps it will strike people unacquainted with military aflPairs and, especially, actual campaigning; but the demanded powers covered, as will be seen here-

A nation's work. 21

after, a vast amount of ground. The delegates from New York proved themselves worthy of their representative office ; unlike most civilians, they avoided everything savouring of dictation, pledging to submit themselves entirely to the military and medical authorities of the army. I would here give a short extract from a speech delivered by Dr. Bellows, President of the Sa- nitary Commission, in February of last year. There is no country where the remarks in ques- tion would be out of place ; if there be an ex- ception, it certainly is not ours.

ADVANTAGES OF RED TAPE.

" I know nothing more foolish and insane than that nni- versal popular cry against ' red tape.' Permit me to say that in the army ' red tape ' is as essential to men as white tape is at home to women. I need not say that it is equal folly to attempt to do without the one as to do without the other. Instead of decrying ' red tape,' all my experience has taught me to believe that the principal difficulties connected with the humane administration of army affairs, are due to the neglect of * red tape.' If you could have real ' red tape '—not that kind painted on barbers' poles, which ties up nothing— if you could only have real rule, method, and habit carried out to the death even, you would have the surest way of attaining to the best results in militaiy affairs. And that is a matter that ought to be more generally understood among the women and the men in the land.

"The women— God bless them! -think that it requires nothing but a good and loving heart to aid the poor soldier. But I can assure you that, however aj-dent and warm the

22

heart, its pulsations, to be effective, must be regulated by order aud method."

At the time this speech was delivered, the speaker had had two years^ experience of the need of order and regulation in dealing with soldiers and charitable aid societies ; but the above memorial to the Secretary of War proves that he and his colleagues, from tlie outset, recognised the advantages of "^red tape^^ pro- perly applied.

A NATION^S WORK. 23

CHAPTER III.

The War Department and Government finally gave consent to tlie establishment of the proposed Commission, but reluctantly : seven- . teen days elapsed before the required authoriza- tion came from the Secretary of War, endorsed by the President as follows :— " I approve the above.— A. Lincoln.'' The concluding para- graph of the document is suggestive.

" The Commission will exist until the Secretary of War shall othei-wise direct, unless sooner dissolved by its own action."

The Commission was to exist on sufferance, unless it chose sooner to put an end to its own existence. This was the grimmest of grim jokes, for the delegates from New York in the interim of the seventeen days, had availed themselves of the opportunity to study the con- dition of affairs at head-quarters. The inves- tigation was very far from consoling, but it could scarcely have been otherwise than they found it. The United States army, under the

24 A WOMAN^S EXAMPLE.

call of President Lincoln for 75^000 volunteers^ had jumped from 20,000 men on paper, to 80,000 in fact ; and it was not to be supposed that the bureau system for the smaller force could be all at once re-organized for so great an increase. The North American Review (Janu- ary 1864) gives the following vivid description of the state of affairs at Washington, at the period here referred to.

TERRIBLE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS AT COMMENCEMENT OF THE WAR.

"For the first year of the war, there was not commercial industry enough in the coiuitry to supply the actual Avants of the army. Clothing could not be manufactured fast enough to meet the rapidly recruited ranks. Cloths were imported by the Government as a protection against the enormous rates which holders of suitable stuffs were selfishly exacting. Besides, the ideas of the Government Bureaus did not, and could not, expand as fast as the unprecedented wants of the arm.y did. Timidity and caution tied up the boldest hands. The suffering which existed in the rank and file from want of blankets, stockings, over-coats, and tents, v.-as great. The regimental hospitals, under new and inex- perienced surgeons, without acquaintance with bureau routine, were often desperately deficient, both in what they might have had, if at the proi)er time they had known how to ask for it, and of what no skill in asking at that time could secure. The general hospitals were just beginning to be established. Incon- venient and wholly unsuitable buildings Avere the only ones within reach, and the Government was not then aroused to the necessity of erecting proper ones. The hospital fund, the usual adequate resource of the surgeon for all extra com-

A nation's work. 25

forts and delicacies, now extensively, nay, universally in operation, could not at once be inaugurated, even by experts, and was utterly beyond the management of novices. It afforded no dependence for many months, and was of little use for the first year of the war."

At tliis crisis of want and destitution, the volunteer association, seeking existence as a recognized Sanitary Commission, offers its ser- vices. President Lincoln is reported to have replied to a certain office aspirant who asserted that he had brought about his (Mr. Lincoln^s) election, *^ And a pretty mess you have got me into." Doubtless, a similar joke was intended when the Secretary of War, with the approval of the President, consented to the existence of the Commission during his good pleasure, ^^ unless sooner dissolved by its own action'^ But the delegates and their constituents, instead of being appalled at the terrible condition of affairs, felt that a far greater need existed for their labours than they had previously sup- posed ; and being armed with all they sought from the Government — the right to exist, and work, and counsel — they forthwith commenced to organize the entire North for the benefit of the soldiers in the field.

26 A woman's example.

THE COMMISSION FINALLY GETS TO ITS WORK.

There were many Soldiers' Aid Societies already in course of establisliment, but all of them more or less operating upon an unsafe basis. Individual States^ counties, and towns had formed committees, and were raising funds and other contributions for the benefit of the volunteers belonging to their immediate neigh- bourhoods ; but they quickly discovered the difficulty which such organizations must expe- rience when dealing with regiments at hundreds of miles distance, and liable to be marched from one side of a State to another, — that is, over an area as large as England itself, — with- out intimation to the public. The Sanitary Commission, at the outset, found it no easy task to prove to these well-meaning, but short- sighted Aid Societies, that the interests of the troops in whose behalf they were established, must of necessity be safer in the hands of a powerful national body than in the manage- ment of a town committee or local board. One by one, they gave in their adhesion to the Commission; and, in a short time, the women

A NATION^ S WORK. 2*7

of the entire Northern States had formed them- selves into '^ Branches " in all the cities, towns, and villages, and were plying their needles and pens in its behalf.

Between the increasing wants of the army, and the enthusiastic, but ill-directed, zeal of the community at large, the newly-appointed Commission found themselves in a dilemma resembling that of Hercules when he took stock of the Augean Stable. Doubtless, that classic worthy, on the occasion in question, desired two pairs of hands instead of the single pair with which Nature had blessed him ; and the Sanitary Commission, under similar convic- tions, were not dilatory in coming to the con- clusion that additional help would be useful and necessary. They increased their Executive Committee to the number of twenty-one, com- prising in the list many of the first names in the medical and philanthropic classes of the country; and, in especial, that of Frederick Law Olmsted. This gentleman, whose reputa- tion is well established in this country by his works on the agricultural and other re- sources of the Southern States of the American

28 A woman's example.

Union, lield the position of architect and engineer of the New York Central Park ; but in view of the benevolent aims of the Sanitary Commission, he threw up his office and ac- cepted the post of Secretary and Manager (under the Committee) of the newly-formed Associa- tion.

The next step was to select and appoint Asso- ciate Members in every part of the country ; and the men so chosen were those in a position to exert influence and willing to sacrifice them- selves and their time in behalf of the army^s welfare — without any other remuneration or reward than the conviction of doing their duty. These Associate Members were charged with enlightening the community in their respec- tive neighbourhoods upon the wants and objects of the Commission, inviting all those desirous of adding to the comfort of the soldier to put themselves in communication with them. Cir- culars were printed and distributed by thou- sands throughout the country, describing the necessities of the army, especially in regard to hospital matters; every postmaster in the North received a notice which he was requested

A NATION S WORK. 29

to make as public as possible, calling upon the inhabitants, especially the women, to organize branches in aid of the Commission ; editors of newspapers (in America their name is '' legion") were requested and urged to ventilate the sub- ject in their columns at every opportunity ; chairmen and directors of life insurance compa- nies were made to understand that they had a peculiar interest in the well-being and security from disease of the soldier ; and, in short, every class or division of society was netted into the movement and induced to workfor the army while the army was Avorking for them in the field.

THE QUESTION OF TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS.

Every successive step seemed to develope additional difficulties. The women having, at length, found a vent to their patriotism, and being instructed as to what articles were imme- diately needed by the army, commenced work- ing with a will and energy which men seldom display. Private dwellings, warehouses, school- rooms, even churches, became overstocked with bales and bundles of clothing and other articles for the sick, all waiting the order for removal

30 A woman's example.

from head-quarters. The question of trans- portation was by no means an easy one of solution in a country so extensive as the United States, not merely from the compara- tively few railroads, canals, and other routes, but, still more, from political causes. The rivalry and jealousy between the several States at the period of the commencement of the war; the doctrine of " State Sovereignty,^^ and the general desire to maintain State in- tegrity and exclusiveness, militated ruinously against the operations of the Commission; but what the Government had found itself power- less to surmount, the Commission, prompted by pure feelings of benevolence, finally overcame. They determined to treat the country, not as a number of distinct sovereignties allied for a common object, but as one indivisible whole ; to remove, so to speak, former dividing lines, and to split the land up into new sections in which navigable water-courses, roads, and rail- ways should be the centres, or main arteries. Central depots were established in the large cities where were received contributions of all kinds from towns and villages in the vicinity ;

31

one hundred and twenty towns thus became auxiliary to the branch at Cleveland in the State of Ohio, and no less than twelve hun- dred and twenty-six towns to the city of New York. The Executive Committee at Washing- ton was thus enabled to control and direct the benevolence of the entire country into what- ever channel became necessary, and relieved itself from undue correspondence and interpo- lations by communicating with and acting upon the central depots alone.

INSPECTION OF CAMPS AND HOSPITALS.

While the Commission were thus organizing the country for future operations, they were none the less pursuing the main object for which they had been appointed. Inspectors were immediately set to work examining the condition of the camps and hospitals, not merely in reference to sanitary questions, but also in regard to everything involving the efficiency of the soldier outside of purely military consider- ations. The examination was usually made by two inspectors, acting together; one, a medical practitioner of recognized standing, and the

32 A WOMAN^S EXAMPLE.

other, in most cases, a minister of the Gospel. Their instructions were to report themselves to the General commanding an army, or the officer in charge of a post, immediately on reaching the scene of their labours ; and without delay to put themselves in friendly communication with the medical authorities, and to ask for such information as their instructions directed. After inspecting the hospitals, camps, and the troops themselves, they forwarded their reports, which were strictly confidential, to the central Office at Washington : some fifteen hundred of these reports have thus been received and tabulated ; and it is highly probable that this volunteer association of benevolent indivi- duals has now in its possession more complete and valuable information upon the sanitary condition of armies in campaign than can be found in Europe. Each inspector, as part of his report, was required to give written answers to one hundred and eighty printed questions, and these questions involved every possible de- tail affecting the health and effectiveness of the soldier, at every season of the year and in widely distant latitudes.

33

CHAPTER IV.

CONFLICT WITH THE MEDICAL BUREAU OF THE ARMY.

Difficulties increased at every step. The Medical Department of the army had become rusty from long years of peace, and it was of the first necessity that the bureaus should be organized on a new basis. But the Government, new in office, and, probably, not yet thoroughly aroused to the magnitude of the task before it, retained the old organization and contented it- self with simply appointing a new Surgeon- General. The new appointee lost no time in proving his hostitity to the Sanitary Commis- sion, " declared that he would have nothing to do with it ; that if it went into operation, the responsibility must not rest upon him ; that it was a perilous conception to allow any such outside body to come into being," and many similar objections; but it not being within his power to oppose the action of the Secretary of

34

War, approved as it was by the President, he gave his consent to the Commission's doing what it chose for the volunteers, provided it never meddled with the regular troops. Several months' experience with this gentleman at the head of the medical department of the army- proved conclusively that the health and effec- tiveness of the soldiers were not likely to be benefited by his appointment ; he pertinaciously maintained obsolete regulations — very benefi- cial no doubt for an army of 12,000 men who occasionally saw a little bush-fighting with Indians, but worse than useless under the altered state of affairs. When the Commission found, as it soon did, that no change was pro- bable in this officer's tone or action, it resolved to obtain his removal, and to reorganize the medical department of the army by legislative enactment. The struggle was long and ardu- ous. Deputation followed deputation to the President and Secretary of War ; strong com- plaints from army ofiQcers as to the inefficiency of the medical staff were forwarded to head- quarters under advice of the Commission ; memorials on the subject poured into Congress ;

35

and, finally, a bill passed the two Houses of the national Legislature fundamentally re- organizing the department, appointing a corps of general inspectors, and substituting for the old system of seniority the principle of compe- tency ivithout regard to grade or age. This bill, which received the signature of the Presi- dent, was drawn up under the auspices of the Executive Committee of the Sanitary Commis- sion, and by their infiuence carried through Congress: the success attending their efforts should be a good example to others in dealing with the obstructiveness of enervating routine, and proves couclusively that public opinion, when thoroughly enlightened and aroused, must carry its point against every opposition.

NOMINATION OF SURGEON-GENERAL.

But the battle was only half fought. The nomi- nation of the new Surgeon- General rested with the President, but the latter would be influenced in his selection by the opinion of the Secretary of War. In departing from the rule of seniority there is great danger of appointments being

36 A woman's example.

made from mere favouritism ; and as the selec- tion, in this instance, rested with non-pro- fessionals, accident might influence the choice, and "the right man for the right place^' not, after all, be found. The Commission resolved to make a selection and to recommend its own nomination to the President; and while the Medical Bill was pending in Congress, the Executive Committee, comprising some of the most prominent medical professionals in the country, and whose names are well known on this side the Atlantic, began to look about for an officer whose scientific attainments and executive ability would justify them in re- commending him for the position. Such an one they found in the person of Dr. W. A. Hammond, Assistant Surgeon on the Medical Staff"; and, after great opposition from the then Secretary of War and his successor, the present incumbent of the office, the President listened to the voice of the country as spoken through the Commission, and sent in the name of that gentleman to Congress. The latter body en- dorsed the nomination, and from the rank of first lieutenant and the management of a single

37

hospital Dr. Hammond immediately stepped to the grade of brigadier-general, and the entire control of the Medical Department of an army as large as any in Europe. The results of his appointment have justified the endorsement of his friends and satisfied the country. The Medical Times {London, October 12th, 1863) thus speaks of Dr. Hammond : ^' Making allow- ance for the nsnal transatlantic exaggerations, he really seems to have done his work well. Ap- pointed by the President, in spite of the old routine custom, over the heads of many seniors, he eame to his task full of vigour, in the prime of life, and capable of great physical endurance. With a bold hand he surrounded himself with trustworthy subordinates, displacing many whom he did not think equal to the crisis, and pro- ceeded energetically with his work. Large armies had to be provided for, a system of mi- litary hospitals to be organized, the examining boards to be constructed, and an army medical school and museum to be founded. With all these vast and useful works he seems to have succeeded beyond all expectation.'^ What is more, he recognized the labours and utility of

38 A woman's example.

the Sanitary Commission, and that body soon became, as it was designed, the band-maiden of the Medical Department and tbe ever-present friend of tbe suffering and sick soldiers.

These details may not, at first sight, be in- teresting to European readers, but they teach us a lesson from which we ought to profit. The United States^ Army, at the commencement of the war, was the most aristocratic and exclusive body in the country ; it was fenced about with routine, reform was steadfastly guarded against, and " the first families,^^ to use an American phrase, wielded their immense influence upon the government and legislature to prevent poach- ing on their preserves. Yet the people, and notably the women of the land, acting by the volunteer organization styled the Sanitary Com- mission, upset the ancient order of things and remodelled the Medical Department, in spite of itself and its friends, on an entirely modern and enlightened basis. At all events these de- tails are in nowise irrelevant, for they serve to display one grand achievement of the Com- mission.

A nation's work. 39

CHAPTER V.

MEDICAL WORKS PUBLISHED BY THE COMMISSION.

The inexperience of the medical officers of the army early engaged the attention of the Commission. Nearly the entire body of regi- mental surgeons and assistants were unac- quainted with that peculiar branch of medical science which is requisite in the field ; the Go- vernment had too much to attend to in other directions to undertake the task of instructing them in their duties ; and the Sanitary Com- mission forthwith appointed a special Committee of its members to draw up a series of pamphlets on military surgery and kindred topics. The following list of papers already issued will give an idea of the subjects treated : the pamphlets were distributed gratis among the surgeons.

Pain and Anesthetics, by the father of Ame- rican Surgery, Dr. Valentine Mott.

Advice as to Camping ; issued by the British

40 A WOMAN^S EXAMPLE.

Sanitary Commission^ at period of Crimean War.

Report on Military Hygiene and Therapeutics,

Directions to Army Surgeoyis on the Battle- field; by G. J. Guthrie^ late Staff- Surgeon to the British Army.

Rules for preserving the health of the soldier.

Quinine as a prophylactic against malarious diseases.

Army Vaccination.

Amputations.

Amputations through the Foot and at the Ankle-joint.

Venereal diseases.

Pneumonia.

Continued Fevers.

Excision of Joints for Traumatic Cause.

Dysentery.

Scurvy.

Treatment of Fractures in Military Surgery.

Nature and Treatment of Miasmatic Fevers.

Nature and Treatment of Yellow Fever.

Hemorrhage from Wounds and the best means of arresting it ; by Dr. Valentine Mott.

If the Commission had done no more than

A nation's work. 41

issue these Reports and Instructions^ it would still have earned the gratitude of the army and country ; for the medical officers of the different regiments, almost in every instance coming from civil life, were lamentably deficient in the duties and requirements of their new practice. The observations and advice of Florence Night- ingale were laid continually before them ; and that lady is as well known and venerated throughout the United States as in our own country. Her self-sacrificing deeds at the period of the Crimean war earned her the fore- most place in the respect and admiration of the American people ; but she is now regarded as the friend of American soldiers, and the beneficent Genius of their hospitals and sick chambers.

DISEASES IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF THE COUNTRY.

The Medical Department of the Army being now under the control of an officer possessing the confidence of the troops and the country, the Commission could henceforward devote its attention exclusively to its own objects. In order

42

more fully to deal with the rebellion, the field of war had been divided by the Government into Military Departments ; these were in most in- stances the valleys of great rivers_, such as the Potomac, Mississippi, Cumberland, and Ten- nessee, but there were also North and South Carolina and the mountainous region of Vir- ginia. These Departments all differed from each other in every imaginable way, and it may be said that every latitude of Europe and all variations of climate were there fully repre- sented. Some diseases prevalent in one region were unknown in others, and malarious affec- tions unheard of in European armies neces- sitated treatment and remedies which had to be discovered. The Commission endeavoured to obtain intelligence of future movements in ad- vance of the march of the different commands, and, as soon as the localities became known, physicians and surgeons were despatched to the scene of operations charged with the duty of learning from the inhabitants the prevalent diseases of the region. Their reports to the Commission contained not merely information on these topics, but, also, the treatment usually

A nation's work. 43

adopted^ and advice as to the best mode of for- warding supplies.

HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS.

At the commencement of the war, the opera- tions of the contending hosts followed the courses of navigable rivers : this was forced as a necessity upon Federals and Confederates alike, for the railroads in the South are few and far between, and consist invariably of a single line of rails ; whilst common roads are almost unknown there, and when they exist are impassable during half the year. In view of these facts, the Commission suggested the ad- visability of organizing a system of hospital transportation, and, as an example, it engaged several river steamboats of large capacity, fitted them up as hospitals, supplied them with its own surgeons, medicines, and trained nurses, and despatched them to the various scenes of action.

I can myself bear testimony to the value of these floating hospitals, having seen them pur- suing their work during the campaign on the Yorktown Peninsula in 1862. The basis of

44

McClellan's operations against Kicliniond was the York and Pamunkey rivers ; and until the Confederates turned the right flank of the Union army, and forced it into disastrous re- treat from the lines of the Chickahominy in the latter days of June, the sick and wounded of the Northern forces were carried to West Point on the Pamunkey : the general hospitals of the army were there established, and rapidly became overcrowded ; the locality was ex- tremely hot and unhealthy, and medical at- tendance insufficient. By means of these hos- pital-steamers, the invalids were carried down the Pamunkey to the York river, and thence to Portress Monroe at the mouth of the Chesa- peake ; there, under the refreshing sea-breezes and within twelve hours^ steam of Baltimore, they could obtain every necessary aid, and if need were, be forthwith transported to the North.

These American river steamers are pecu- liarly adapted to such a purpose as that of carrying the sick. Everything, — engines and all, — is above water ; their draught is but a few feet, and the cabins are built over each other,

45

being sometimes three stories high. The win- dows are large and ceilings lofty ; consequently there is a good supply of that chief necessity of hospitals — fresh air ; even when, as was fre- quently the case, there were from five hundred to a thousand invalids on board.

It will not be out of place to give some idea of the work which these floating hospitals of the Commission were called upon to perform. The women, as usual, were the soul and life of these steamers ; danger never affected their nerves, and, when men flinched, they were the more decided. They were in nearly every in- stance members of wealthy families, for it was regarded as high honour to be engaged under the Commission *^in the field,'^ and habits of luxury and ease would not be supposed to fit them for the hardships of campaigning and scenes of peril. The following extracts are from a work lately written by one of these nurses of the Sanitary Commission, and it may add to their interest when I state that the author is an Englishwoman.*

* Tlie United States Sanitarij Commission. Boston, 1863. The author makes this amiouncement,— " It may be neces-

46

"At midniglit, tw'o steamers came alongside the 'Elm City,' each with a hmidi-ed sick, bringing word tliat ' The Daniel Webster No. 2,' (a sidewheel vessel, not a Commission boat) was aground at a little distance with two hundred more, having no one in charge of them, and nothing to eat. Of com'se they had to be attended to. So, amidst the wildest and most beautiful storm of thunder and lightning, four of us pulled oiF to her in a little boat, with tea, bread, brandy, and beef-essence. (No one can tell how it tries my nerves to go toppling round at night in little boats, and clambering up ships' sides on little ladders.) We fed them, — the usual process. Poor fellows ! they were so crazy ! And then the ' Wissahickon ' came alongside to transfer them to the ' Elm City.' Only a part of them could go in the first load. Dr. Ware, with his constant thoughtfulness, made me go in her to escape retm-ning in the smaU boat. Just as we pushed off, the steam gave out, and we drifted end on to the shore. Then a boat had to put off from the ' Elm City,' with a line to tow us up. All this time the thunder was incessant, the ram falling m torrents, whilst every second the beautiful crimson lightning flashed the whole scene open to us."

Another lady gives lier experience as fol- lows : —

" We were called to go on board ' The Wissahickon,' from thence to ' The Sea-shore,' and run down in the latter to

sary to inform the reader that this book does not originate with the United States Sanitary Commission, nor with any of its ofi&cers. But it is written by one who has served with the Commission from the first, and Avho may claim to compre- hend its purposes and its work, and to relate its facts with accuracy." As the author Tvithholds her name, of com-se I do not give it.

There are many English men and women now acting under the orders of the Commission. Dr. Reid, formerly Director of Ventilation at the Houses of Parliament, died in its ser- vice, being at the time of his death its Special Inspector of Ventilation in Hospitals.

47

West Point, to bring off twenty-five men said to be lying there sick and destitute. Two doctors went with us. After hunting an hour for ' The Sea-shore ' in vain, and having got

as low as Cumberland, we decided [roe being Mrs. and I,

for the doctors were new and docile, and glad to leave the re- sponsibility upon us women) to push on in the tug, rather than leave the men another night on the ground, as a heavy stoim of wind and rain had been going on all day. The pilot remonstrated but the captain approved ; and if the firemen had not suddenly let out the fires, and detained us two hours, we might have got our men on board and returned com- fortably soon after dark. But the delay lost us the precious daylight. It was night before the last man was got on board. There were fifty-six of them — ten very sick ones. The boat had a little shelter-cabin. As we were laying matti'esses on the floor, whilst the doctors were finding the men, the captain stopped us, refusing to let us put typhoid fever below the deck, on account of the crew, he said, and threatening to

push off, at once, from the shore. IVIrs. and I looked at

him ! I did the terrible and she the pathetic, — and he abandoned the contest. The return-passage was rather an anxious one. The river is much obstructed with sunken ships and trees ; the night was dark, and we had to feel our way, slackening speed every ten minutes. If we had been alone it wouldn't have mattered , but to have fiftyhnen unable to move upon our hands, was too heavy a responsibility not to make us anxious. The captain and pilot said the boat was leaky, and remarked awfully ' that the water was six fathoms deep about there ;' but we saw their motive and were not scared. We were safe alongside the ' Spaulding' by mid- night ; but Mr, Olmsted's tone of voice, as he said, * You don't know how glad I am to see you,' showed how much he had been worried. And yet it was the best thing we could have done, for three, perhaps five, of the men would have been dead before morning. To-day (Sunday) they are living and likely to live. Is this Sunday ? What days our Sundays have been ! I think of you all at rest, and the sound of church-bells in your ears, with a strange distant feeling."

Here is another account, telling of an act of

48 A woman's example.

real heroism. It must be stated that the Sani- tary Commission will not retain in its service anybody who proves at all craven " under fire/^ or in any danger whatsoever. The incident referred to occurred after the retreat from the Chickahominy, when the army of the Potomac had just managed to reach the James river.

"Reached Harrison's Bar at 11 a.m. July 1st, and were ordered to go up the James Eiver as far as Carter's Landing. To do this we had to pass the batteries at City Point." (These batteries were Confederate.) " We were told there was no danger if we should carry a yellow flag ; yellow Jiag we had none, so we trusted to the red Sanitary Commission, and prepared to run it. 'The Galena' (a Federal iron-clad) hailed us to keep below as we passed the battery. Shortly after we came up with ' The Monitor,' (another iron-clad,) and the little captain, with his East India hat, trumpet in hand, repeated the advice of the ' Galena,' and added that if he heard firing he would follow us. Our cannon pointed its black muzzle at the shore, and on we went. As we left ' The Monitor,' the captain came to me, with his grim smile, and said, 'I'll take those mattresses you spoke of.' We had joked, as people will, about our danger, and I had suggested mat- tresses around the wheel-house, never thinking that he would try it. But the captain was in earnest ; when was he any- thing else? So the contrabands (negroes) brought up the mattresses and piled them against the wheel-house, and the pilot stood against the mast, with a mattress slung in the rig- ging to protect him. In an hour we had passed the danger and reached Carter's Landing, and there was the army, — ' all that was left of it.'"

Women are alike the world over, always the same lo\ing, self-sacrificing creatures, never

49

counting their own safety as anything when suffering has to be relieved. Men are split up into nationalities, but women are of one coun- try everywhere.

FIELD COOKING.

Another suggestion of the Commission, and one which the medical officers of the army quickly adopted, was a model receiving hospi- tal. A rapidly constructed,. ^^^Yf ^^^ easily transported building for the sick is a desidera- tum in all armies, and it is doubtful whether anything could be much better than the one in question. It consisted of trunks of trees placed upright at proper distances, roofed over with tarpaulings, and the sides covered in with tent- duck, which latter could be raised or lowered at pleasure. The first hospital of the kind con- structed contained fifteen hundred (1500) beds. The subject of cooking early engaged the atten- tion of the Commission, as would be expected ; and herein lay a splendid field for its labours and advice. The ration issued to the American soldier is by far the largest and most varied of any known ; but Americans are as poor cooks,

D

50 A WOMAN^S EXAMPLE.

as Englislimen, and the very quantity of food issued to them, if badly prepared, would be- come a fruitful source of disease in the army. As a general rule, campaign-cooking con- sists in burning freshly-killed meat with fire on the ground; economy of fuel is not usually studied in this process, and the time occasionally arrives when dry sticks, or timber, are not forth- coming in sufiicient quantity. After an en- gagement, the troops are not generally dis- posed to fatigue themselves to any great extent in hunting for wood, and yet many hundreds, if not thousands, of wounded and sick have to be fed. The Sanitary Commission provided for such emergencies by placing large cauldrons on wheels, from which its agents served out properly-made and nutritious soup ; and the army quickly adopted the idea.

51

CHAPTER YI.

INSPECTION OF TROOPS_, HOSPITALS, AND CAMPS.

The Commission, as we have incidentally re- marked elsewhere, gave from the outset marked prominence to the inspection of troops, hospi- tals, and camps ; every facility being extended to its representatives by the medical autho- rities throughout the country, after Dr. Ham- mond^s appointment to the Surgeon-General- ship. Special inspectors were charged with this duty ; and the following subjects, dilated upon in one of the Reports, will serve to show the nature and character of the inspection.

1. — Description and general character of troops inspected.

2. — Character of camp sites.

3. — Arrangement and condition of camps.

4. — Tents ; their character, ventilation, and management.

5.— Bedding and clothing.

6. — Personal cleanliness.

525

7. — Cleaoliness of camps.

8.— Water, source and quality.

9. — Rations and cooking.

10.— Company fund.

11.— Sutlers.

12. — Intoxication.

13. — Absences from cainp.

14. — Recreation.

15. — Benefit societies*

16. — Discipline.

17. — Medical inspection on enlistment,

18. — Medical officers.

19. — Hospitals, ambulances, &c.

20. — Prevailing diseases.

2 1 . — Preventive duty of surgeons-.

22. — Arms and accoutrements.

ENFOKCEMENT OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES IN THE ARMY.

Another E eport of the Commission, on simi- lar topics to the above, contains tlie follow- ing :—

" The United States Government very properly recognizes tlie importance of moral and religious influences in the army by the appointment of a chaplain to each regiment, and the forbidding, by army regulations, sundiy immoralities among the troops. The wisdom of this consists, not merely in the

53

mational recognition of Christianity thus manifested, nor yet simply iu the spiritual improvement of the soldiers and the protection from ruinous influences of the thousands of young men drawn away from the restraints of home ; but also in its relation to the physical and mental condition of the army most favourable to military ■efficiency. Vice of every kind saps the liealth and destroys the discipline of aa army. Hence the officers, from the General in command downwards, should give their full sanction to all appropriate moral and religious influences that can be introduced into camp life. By example, and the careful arrangement of railitafy plans and methods, they should lead the army to respect the Sabbath and public ■worship ; and should suppress profanity, intemperance, gamb- ling, and licentiousness."

WHAT IS TO BE DONE WITH AMERICAN SOLDIERS AT THE CLOSE OF THE WAR?

The founders and directors of tke Sanitary Commission early asked tliemselves the ques- tion, ^^ What is to become of the tens of thou- sands of disabled soldiers after peace is re- stored ?" It was impossible to decide that ques- tion in America, except on theory ;; and the Exe- cutive Committee of the Commission resolved to despatch a special agent to Europe, charged with the study of investigating the pension and invalid systems of armies. The Executive Committee selected the gentleman who should act as their agent, and the President of the Commission was requested to communicate

64

■with him on the subject. I propose to make a few short extracts from Dr. Bellows' letter of invitation.

" New York, August 15th, 1862.

" Stephen G. Perkins, Esq.

" Dear Sik, — The Sanitary Commission are much exer- cised with the subject of the future of the disabled soldiers of this war. They calculate that, if it continue a year longer, not less than a hundred thousand men, of impaired vigour, maimed, or broken in body and spirit, will be thrown on the country. Add to this a tide of another hundred thousand men, demoralized for civil life by military habits, and it is easy to see what a trial to the order, industry, and security of society, and what a burden to its already strained resources, there is in store for us."

******

" To restore the large proportion of all our invalids to their homes, there to live and labour according to their strength, sustained and blessed by their own kindred, we must have a sound, a generous, a wisely-considered pension law ; and this pension law must be rid of all humiliating or enslaving cha- racter, * * * Moreover, the right to a pension should not rest exclusively on visible wounds. Broken constitutions, or impaired vigour, traceable unmistakably to military service, should entitle to a pension."

******

" We are very anxious to have a careful report on the sub- ject of the foreign institutions for the care of invalid soldiers, before the next meeting of Congress. And at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Sanitary Commission re- cently held at my house, the following resolution was oifered by Mr. Olmsted, and passed :

' Eesolvcd that S. G. Perkins, Esq. be requested to study the militaiy pension and invalid system of the princi*- pal European nations, visiting the more important es- tablishments in which invalid soldiers are maintained, and to report his observations to the Commission, with

55

the conclusions of his judgment in regard to an invalid and pension system for the disabled soldiers of the pre- sent war.'

" I hope you will consent to do this work for us. 1 know no man so well fitted, and I really think it can be laid upon you as a clear call of Divine Providence. Nothing was said on the subject of remuneration. We are all volunteers in this good work. But I think there is no doubt that any necessaiy expenses, incm-red in this service, would be cheerfully reim- bursed by this Commission ; and if this is a point of interest or importance, I will have action taken upon it at the earliest moment.* * * *

I am, dear Sir, very respectfully and cordially yom*s, "Henry W. Bellows, " PresideJit of the Sanitary Com7nissio7i."

Mr. Perkins accepted the duties thus proposed, and the result of his investigations was a most comprehensive and valuable '^ Eeport on the Pension Systems and Invalid Hospitals of France, Prussia, Austria, Russia, and Italy; with some suggestions upon the best means of disposing of our disabled soldiers.'^ Space will not admit of more than referring to this result of Mr. Perkins' labours.

56 A woman's example,

CHAPTER VII,

ARTICLES AND STORES GIVEN AWAY BY THE COMMISSION.

Nothing will convey a better impression of the magnitude of the Commission's operations than lists of articles distributed to the sick and wounded after some of the principal battles. It should be borne in mind that it never has received the slightest pecuniary assistance from the Government, every article named being the voluntary contribution of the people, for whom it really acts as simple agent. The waggons carrying its supplies, the horses and mules alike, are all its own property : it professes to give alone, and is under no obligation whatever to the authorities for assistance of any kind. Further, its contributions are not distributed directly to the troops, but are handed over to the medical officers of the army, or issued with their advice or consent. Confusion is thereby

A nation's work. 5 J

avoided, atid the Medical Staff and unofficial Commission work together without possibility of discord.

The colleetion of these enormous supplies is, of course, a work of time ; one demanding, too, great business tact and the highest executive ability. The articles, bulky as they necessarily are, must be on the spot when required, or within easy, reachable distance; for time is everything in dealing with sick and wounded men. The Commission therefore established great central d-epots at various points along the line of the campaign, and the railroads con- verging towards those points from the North equally with navigable rivers and the ocean itself, carried the offerings of the charitable to its warehouses. The armies of Grant and Rosecrans, operating in the States of Missis- sippi and Tennessee, would be supplied from the North-western States, and some idea may be formed of the magnitude of these operations of the Commission by a list of contributions of only seven cities. From September 1, 1861, to September 1, 1863, the branches at Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Louisville, Pittsburg,

58,

A WOMAN'S EXAMPLE.

Buffalo, and New Albany, sent forward tlie following supplies : —

CONTRIBUTIONS OF SEVEN WESTERN CITIES.

Packages .	62,445	Concentrated
Blankets .	10,911	Beef . . 30,116 lbs.
Comfortables .	38,957	Condensed Milk 46,807 „"
Bed-ticks .	24,^98	Biscuits . . 100,320 „
Pillow- ticks	10,421	Dried Beef . 13,423 „
Pillows . .	18,841	Tea . . 5,779 „
Pillow-cases	153,017	Sugar . . 21,580 „
Sheets .	57,082	Dried Emit . 466,347 „
Shirts	192,712	Light Groceries 47,657 „
Drawers .	107,465	Codfish . . 50,862 „
Dressing-gowns	11,483	Cheese . . 11,981 „
Coats & Vests .	8,999	Butter . . 40,170 „
Towels&hndk'fs, 270,276	Eggs . , 38,633 doz.
Socks .	84,485	Wines & Spu-its 29,37 8 bots.
Slippers .	15,207	Apple-butter . 2,160gals.
Mittens .	9,180	Pickles . . 27,471 „
Night-caps	4,464	Potatoes . . 50,281 bus.
Bandages & Rags	;, 205,632 lbs.	Ale & Cider ;. ll,584gals.
Sponges and Pads 51,024 „	Chickens . 4/il4
Pin-cushions .	27,182	Crutches 3,309 prs.
Cans of Fruit .	97,642

In addition to all these, there were many miscellaneous articles, such as hospital furni- ture, &c. It must not be supposed that the Medical Department of the Army makes any diminution whatever in its supplies owing to the beneficence of the Commission. It acts without any regard to its existence ; but, at the same time, the Commission furnishes a long

59

list of articles wliich are not down in the " Re- gulations," and therefore would never reach the soldier, in field or hospital, but for its enter« prise and benevolence. Occasionally, however, it comes to the aid of the Medical Staff at cri- tical periods. A terrible misfortune befel that branch of the army of the Potomac after the disastrous second battle of Bull Run : forty- three waggon loads of medical stores were cap- tured by the Confederates at the close of the battle, when General Pope's army was com- mencing its retreat after a loss in killed and wounded which the highest military authority in the Northern States placed at 16,000 men» Two waggon-loads of drugs and medicines, despatched from Washington by the Sanitary Commission in charge of its own agents, reached the scene of action at the close of the second day^s battle ; and sixteen additional waggons from the same source came safely to their des- tination within the two succeeding days. At Centreville, on the road from Bull Run to Washington, the Commission's agents served out to the straggling wounded, who poured in, jaded and worn, by hundreds, hot beef tea,.

60

soup, bread and stimulants, gathered tliem into ambulances and hospitals, and assisted others onwards to Washington.

At the almost equally sanguinary battle of Antietam, which followed shortly afterwards, the Sanitary Commission again came to the relief of the sick and wounded of both armies. The following letter from Mr. Olmsted gives a list of some of the articles supplied under his direction,

*' Washington, Sept. 23. " To Dr. BeUows, President.

" Sir, — I inclose Br. Agnew's letter. We have sent him since the Army of Virginia" (tlien again under the command of General McClellan,) *' went to meet the invaders, that is, within ten days, 28,763 pieces of dry goods, shirts, towels, bedticks, pillows, &c. ; 30 barrels old linen, bandages, and lint ; 3188 pounds of farina; 2620 pounds condensed milk ; 5000 pounds beef-stock and canned meats ; 3000 bottles of wine and cordials, and several tons of lemon and other fruit ; crackers, tea, sugar, rubber-cloth, tin cups, and hospital conveniences.

" We are sending forward more, constantly. Four thou- sand sets of hospital clothing will (by special train from New York) get through to Frederick, (300 miles,) to-morrow, if money and energ}^ can break through the obstructions of this embarrassed transportation. Your daily supplies from New York reach us regularly.

*' Respectfully yours, F. L. Olmsted,

" General Secretary ^

After the battle of Fredericksburg, the Com- mission came again to the rescue, and with as

A nation's work. 61

mucli earnestness as ever. The following ex- tracts are from the Report of one of its agents, Dr. Douglas, who started from Washington for the Rappahannock river immediately on news of the battle reaching that city. Dr. Douglas had under his charge a steamboat chartered for the occasion, laden with the Commission's stores ; and his orders were, in company with a party of surgeons and nurses, to ascend the Rappahannock until he reached the army.

-'Early Tuesday morning the rain subsided, the sun ap- peared, and the weather became clear and cold

Blankets had to repair the absence of stoves The

supply in the hands of the purveyor soon became exhausted from the unusual demands made upon him, on account of the severity of the weather. Fortunately we were enabled to supplement his stores, and to answer his calls upon us from the reserveof 1 800 blankets and over 900 quilts, which we

had sent forward We had been able to get up

to our field station 5642 wooUen shirts, 4439 pairs wooUen drawers, 4269 pairs socks, and over 2500 towels, among other articles. These were liberally distributed wherever the surgeons of hospitals indicated there was a need. Certain articles of hospital furniture, of which there was a compa. ratively greater want than of anything else, were freely ob- tained by all surgeons at our station In the

article of food alone, we issued in one week, solely to hos- pitals, sixteen barrels of dried fruit, ten boxes of soda bis- cuit, six barrels of crackers, and nearly 1000 pounds of con- centrated milk. . . . In order to meet whatever demands might arise for the proper sustenance of the wounded while ^n this trying journey" (from Fredericksburg to Washmgton), " Mr. Iviuipp, our special relief agent, was despatched from

62

Washington to Acquia Creek, to provide suitable accommo- dation for furnishing food or shelter at that point. A kitchen was improvised upon the Landing, and the first night meals were provided for 600 wounded brought down by the cars. Mr. Knapp was cordially assisted in this humane work by several members of the Christian Commission* who were present at that place. Through the cordial co-operation of the quartei-master of the post, Mr. Knapp had a building erected adjoining our portable store-house, which affords

shelter and a good bed to nearly 100 every night

By the schedule it will be seen that all the di^dsion hospitals were visited and supplies furnished to them on requisition. Besides this, supplies were also issued to a number of brigade hospitals, and to over fifty regimental hospitals, previous to my leaving on the 24th December."

The following list of articles distributed after the battle of Gettysburg is taken from the official Report of the Commission. The list is headed with this notice : — *' The perishable ar- ticles (amounting to over 60 tons) were taken to the ground in refrigerating cars/^

ARTICLES GIVEN AWAY BY THE SANITARY COM- MISSION AFTER THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG.

Clothing, &c.

Drawers, woollen 5,310 prs. Oil-silk . . 300 yds.

„ cotton . 1,833 „ Tin-basins & cups 7,000

* The Christian Commission is a volunteer association de- signed to aid the Chaplains of the Army by the distribution of Bibles, tracts, and other reading matter to the soldiers. Its agents haA-e, however, discovered, that the bodies of the men have occasionally to be seen to as well as their souls, and it has latterly acted, though of course in a minor degree , after the example of the Sanitary Commission.

A NATION'S WORK.

63

Shirts, woollen / .	7,158	Old linen and
„ cotton .	3,266	bandages	. llObrls.
Pillows	2,114	Water tanks	7
Pillow-cases	264	Water coolers	, 46
Bed-sacks .	1,630	Bay Rum and Eau
Blankets .	1,007	de Cologne	. 225 bots
Sheets	274	Fans	. 3,500
"Wrappers .	508	Chloride of Lime	. llbrls.
Handkercliiefs	2,659	Shoes & SUppers	4,000 prs.
Stockings, woollen 3,560 prs.	Crutches	. 1,200
„ cotton	^,258 „	Lanthorns	. 180
Bed Utensils	728	Candles	. 350 lbs.
Towels & Napkins	10,000	Canvas	. 300 yds.
Sponges .	2,300	Mosquito-netting	. 648 pes.
Combs	1,500	Paper .	. 237 qrs.
Buckets	200	Pants, Coats, Hats 189 pes
Soap, Castile	250 lbs.	Plaster	. 16 rolls
	Food, &c.
Poultry and Mut-		Ice . . .	20,000 lbs.
ton	11,000 lbs.	Concentrated
Butter	6,430 „	Beef Soup	3,800 „
Eggs .	. 8,500 doz.	Concent. Milk	12,500 „
Garden vegetable	s 675bush	Prep. Farina	7,000 „
Berries	48 „	Dried Fruit	3,500 „
Bread	12,900 Ivs.	Jellies	2,000 jars
Tamarinds .	750	Preserved Fish .	3,600 ibs.
Lemons	116box.	Pickles	400 gals.
Oranges	46 „	Tobacco	100 lbs.
Coffee	850 lbs.	Tobacco pipes	1,000
Chocolate .	. 831 „	Indian Meal	1,621 lbs.
Tea	426 „	Starch	1,074 „
White Sugar	. 6,800 „	Codfish	3,848 ,,
Syrups	785bots.	Canned Fruit	582 cans
Brandy	1,250 „	„ Oysters .	72 „
Whiskey .	1,168 „	Brandy Peaches .	303 jars
Wine .	1,148 „	Catsup	43 „
Ale .	600 gals.	Vinegar	24 bots
Biscuit, rusks, &c	. 134 bar.	Jam. Ginger	43 jars
Preserved Meats	500 lbs.

64

The estimated value of these articles, ex- clusive of the cost of collection and transpor- tation to the scene of action, was 75,000 dol- lars ; and yet this was not by much the only service rendered by the Commission to the soldiers. Kitchens, sleeping apartments, shel- ters, were established by its numerous agents ; and crowds of wounded attended to who could not be treated by the over- taxed surgeons of the army. There was every need of this, for no less than 14,860 wounded (of whom 1,810 were Confederates) crowded the hospitals, beside 5,452 Confederates who were captured, and treated elsewhere. The Commission made no difference whatever in its gifts to friend and foe, regarding the sufferers as me7i, not soldiers ; but of the catholicity of its labours I propose to speak, specially, hereafter.

When the army of General Grant was in- vesting Vicksburg, the Commission issued, during the months of May and June (1863) the following articles. The Medical Depart- ment was then in an efficient state of organiza- tion and supply, and the gifts were therefore not on so large a scale as on other more press- inar occasions.

A NATION S WORK.

65

ARTICLES DISTRIBUTED BY THE SANITARY COM- MISSION AT VICKSBURG.

Quilts	1,504	Dried Fruit	16,430 lbs.
Pillows .	2,220	„ Beef. .	888 „
Sheets	1,840	Groceries .	1,882 „
Drawers .	5,376	Wines & Liquor	s 1,979 bots.
Towels, &c.	7,484	Butter	3,557 lbs.
Bed-sacks .	758	Apple -butter	30 gals.
Pillow-cases	. 2,830	Eggs	2,401 doz.
Shirts	. 7,909	Pickles	2,376 gals.
Dressing- gOA\Tis	422	Molasses .	85 „
'Socks	. 2,453 prs.	Sour-krout	1,532 „
Slippers	. 1,190 „	Potatoes .	. 5,762bush
Cloths & Bandag	es 50brls.	Ale and Cider	. 1,031 gals.
Hospital Furniti	ire 1,747 art.	Ice .	. 27,367 lbs.
Fans .	. 2,347	Crackers .	6,898 „
Crutches .	66 prs.	Codfish .	6,777 „
Cots and Mattres	ses 199	Corn-meal .	. 2,485 „
Farina	266 lbs.	Tea .	532 „
Sago	. 1,044	Pickles	301 bot.
Corn-starch	275	Lemons	. 13,200
Fruit	5, 114 cans	Spices	. 2,006 pprs
Concenti-ated B(	jef 771	Quinine	200 oz.

Here is another list of goods given, away by the Commission to one army alone (that of the Potomac), from July 1st to August 31st, 1863. These articles mentioned are exclusive of many others, such as india-rubber cloth, crutches, oiled silk, flannel, porter, ale, &c.

66

A WOMAN S EXAMPLE.

SUPPLIES FURNISHED BY THE COMMISSION TO THE AEMY OF THE POTOMAC IN A SINGLE PEEIOD OF TWO MONTHS.

HOSPITAL FURNITURE.

PERSONAL CLOTHING.

Quilts .	. 30,197	Shii'ts	87,994
Blankets	. 13,500	Drawers .	48,303
Sheets .	. 42,945	Socks .	80,322 prs
Pillows .	. 35,877	Slippers .	14,984 „
Pillow-cases .	. 49,096	Handkerchiefs .	43,606
Pillow-ticks .	. 2,269	Towels .	65,164
Bed-ticks	. 11,716	"Wrappers	10,235
		Plannel-bands .	3,684

HOSPITAL DELICACIES.

Condensed Milk, cans 2,624 Vinegar, bottles . 692

Jelly, jars . . 6,959 Syrups „ . . 1,435

Tea, lbs. ... 541 Beef-stock (liquid) lbs. 634

Spirits, bottles . ,1,026 „ (solid) „ 1,052

Wines, gallons . . 1,020 Farinaceous Food „ 12,263

Sucli details might be multiplied until my work reached a volume of the largest size^ for the Commission has been present in all the battles since nearly the commencement of the war. The collection of these articles over the entire North, the transportation of them to the various depots, the carrying of the different supplies to points upwards of a thousand miles distant, the hiring of vessels and railway wag- gons, has all been done by the Commission alone, and at its own cost and risk. In far-

67

distant Arkansas, 1500 miles from New York ; in Louisiana, and far away to the Mexican fron- tier— on the banks of the Rio Grande del Norte — this volunteer association is carrying on the work of humanity with an unrelenting vigour. Here are the supplies sent by it to South Caro- lina in the hot months of last year : — they had to be transported over seven hundred miles of ocean.

SUPPLIES SENT TO THE ARMY IN SOUTH CARO- LINA BY THE COMMISSION IN THE SUMMER

OF 1863.

Hospital Clothing 10,000 pes. Egg-nog (concent.) 24 cans

Towels & Napkins 8,000 Farinaceous Food 1,000 lbs.

Beds and pads . 6,753 Tea . . . 156 „

Lint, bandages, &c. lOObbls. Refined Sugar . 300 „

Fans . . . 2,100 Eggs . . . 79 doz.

Eaude Cologne 2 gals. Butter . . . 181 lbs.

Bay-rum . . 60 bot. Lemons . . 2 bxs.

Concent. Beef-soup 1,000 cans Lemonade (concent.) 322 „

„ Milk . 1,000 Dried Fruit . . Sobbls.

Brandy . . 216 bot. Fresh Vegetables . 26 „

Whisky . . 336 „ Boston Crackers . 20 „ "Wine . . 384 „ Apple-butter . 120 cans

Beside quick -lime, chloride -of- lime, soap, sponges, combs, hospital utensils, cooking uten- sils, chloroform, morphine, alcohol, salt, mus- tard, pepper, surgical instruments, &c. During

68

the operations on Morris Island, the Commis- sion chartered a vessel, and sent her down to Charleston harbour, laden with ice for the troops working in the trenches. The following extract from the Port Royal Free Press (a newspaper published by soldiers in the Depart- ment of the South) shows how the agents of the Commission risk their own lives to save others'. The occasion referred to was General Gillmore^s assault on Fort Wagner.

" The officers of the Sanitary Commission have won for themselves a splendid reputation in this Department. They have, by their discretion and zeal, saved many valuable lives. Under the guns of Wagner, in the hottest of the fire, their trained corps picked up and carried off the wounded almost as they fell. As many of our men were struck while ascending the parapet and then rolled into the moat, which at high water contains six feet of water, they must inevitably have perished had they been suffered to remain. But the men who were detailed for service with Dr. Marsh (chief agent of the Commission in the Department) went about their work with intrepidity and coolness worthy of all praise. The skill and experience of the members of the Commission has, since the battle, been unremittingly employed to render comfortable the sick and wounded."

69

CHAPTEK VIII.

FIELD RELIEF CORPS.

During the past year, the Commission insti- tuted a special corps, charged with certain duties on the march, and in and after action. Frequently have the members of this body found themselves in the front and ^' under fire/^ trotting their light waggons right up to where the soldiers are falling the fastest, and aiding the surgeons with their welcome stores and hands. Non-combatants are generally supposed to remain in the rear, especially during an en- gagement; and some may imagine that the presence of such men among the soldiers in action would produce confusion. Two high military authorities, however, thus testify in their official reports as to the benefit accruing from this branch of the Commission. The Medical Inspector of the Army of the Potomac states — ^^We could not do without the Sani- tary Commission -'' whilst the Medical Direc-

70

tor endorses this opinion in these words, — " It gives no trouble ; there is no interference."

After an action, the duties of this Field Re- lief Corps are very onerous. Its members hunt up the straggling wounded, assist them to ambulances, treat them surgically or medically — ^thus relieving the overtaxed army surgeons — and aid them to the hospitals or to the ^4odges^' of the Commission, where they can obtain food and shelter.

DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL RELIEF.

The objects of this Branch are explained and set forth by the Sanitary Commission as fol- lows : —

1. To supply to the sick men of the newly-arrived regiments such medicines, food, and care, as it is impossible for them to receive in the midst of the confusion, and with the unavoid- able lack of facilities, from their own officers. The men to be thus aided are those who are not so sick as to have a claim iipon a general hospital, and yet need immediate care to guard them against serious sickness.

2. To furnish suitable food, lodging, care, and assistance, to men who are honourably discharged from service, sent from general hospitals, or from their regiments ; but who are often delayed a day or more in the city — sometimes many days— before they obtain their papers and pay.

3. To communicate with distant regiments in behalf of discharged men, whose certificates of disability or descriptive lists on which to draw their pay, prove to be defective ; the invalid soldiers meantime being cared for, and not exposed to

71

the fatigue and risk of going in person to their regiments to have their papers corrected.

4. To act as the unpaid agent, or attorney, of discharged soldiers wlio are too feeble, or too utterly disabled to present their own claims at the paymaster's office,

5. To look into the condition of discharged men who as- sume to be without means to pay the expense of going to their homes ; and to funiish the necessary means where we find the man is true, and the need real.

6. To secure to disabled soldiers railway tickets at reduced rates ; and, through an agent at the railroad station, to see that these men ai*e not robbed or imposed upon by sharpers.

7. To see that all men who are discharged and paid off, do at once leave the city for their homes ; or in cases where they have been induced by evil companions to remain behind, to endeavom- to rescue them, and see them started with through tickets to their own to^vns.

8. To make reasonably clean and comfortable before they leave the city, such discharged men as are deficient in clean- liness and clothes.

9. To be prepared to meet at once with food or other aid, such immediate necessities as arise when sick men anive in the city in large numbers from battle-fields, or distant hos- pitals.

10. To keep a watchful eye upon all soldiers who are out of hospitals, yet not in service ; and give information to the proper authorities of such soldiers as seem endeavouring to avoid duty, or to desert fi-om the ranks."

Thisbrancli of "Special Relief, ^^ like all other branclies into whicli the Commission divides its operations, is carried on by gentlemen who de- vote their entire attention to it. The above statement of objects gives but a faint idea of the labour and expense attending the Special Relief Agency, for it must be understood that

72

no " commission" is ever charged to tlie soldier, all the operations^ from first to last^ of the Asso- ciation being gratis. " Homes '' have been estabhshed tliroughout the North, where men discharged from service, sick, wounded, waiting for their discharge or pay, are lodged, fed and in everything cared for, until their departure for their own homes becomes possible.

The following is an official statement of the business done at one " Home" in Washington, from Sept. 10, 1861, to Dec, 15, 1862— fifteen months.

Soldiers received . . 14,106

Nights' lodging . . . 36,866 Meals given . . . 81,760

Cost ..*... $11,030

Since the opening of the principal ^* Home '^ in Washington (on North Capitol Street), to October 1st, 1863, 89,986 nights' lodging have been furnished, and 331,315 meals provided.

The managers of the difi'erent '^ Homes '^ in the Western States give their operations as follows. The figures are up to October 1st, 1863.

73

" Home '' at Cleveland (Ohio) . NightsModging . . . 2,569 Meals given . . . 12,227

Chicago (Illinois), opened July 1863. NightsModging . . . 3,109 Meals .... 11,325

Cincinnati (Ohio). Nights' lodging (about) . 10,000 Meals .... 40,017

Louisville (Kentucky). Nights' lodging . . . 17; 765 Meals 102,013

Nashville (Tennessee).

Nights' lodging . . . 4,821 Meals .... 11,909

Cairo (Illinois). Nights' lodging . . . 79^550 Meals .... 190,150

Memphis (Tennessee). NightsModging . . . 2,850 Meals .... 14,780

74

These '' Homes^^ were originally established by the Commission for the benefit of its own and the army nurses, when not engaged in attending the sick, or preparing to depart for distant stations. But in process of time, the mothers, wives and sisters of soldiers in the field would come from a far distance to Wash- ington, and other cities in the vicinity of armies, and find themselves among strangers without the means of obtaining food or shelter. The Commission opened its doors to these sorrowing women, and many hundred such. Northern and Southern alike, have been lodged and fed by it gratuitously.

By this branch of the Commission, soldiers ^^ under difficulty-'-' are enabled to obtain ^Mis- charge papers,^^ when entitled to them, " back pay,^^ '' railway and other tickets^^ at reduced rates ; and, in addition, relatives of soldiers can learn the whereabouts of any of their friends who may be in hospital in any part of the country — that is, over an extent of territory

75

nearly as large as the continent of Europe. There are 233 General Military Hospitals in the Northern States^ and the Commission has im- posed upon itself the task of recording the names, whereabouts, and diseases of all the inmates thereof. In June, 1863, there were no less than 215,221 names in this " Hospital Directory.^^

The Commission also charges itself with the duty of seeing that every deceased soldier is decently interred, or his body forwarded to his friends; besides which, it provides, when not otherwise done, for a tablet with name, &c. over the grave, with an entry in its books of the locality of the latter for future reference.

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CHAPTER IX.

REVENUE OF THE COMMISSION.

We have already seen, to some extent^ how the Commission obtains its stores and funds, all the contributions being purely voluntary, and its transportation and other business managed at its own expense. The people of California forwarded to the Treasurer of the Commission, in one lump, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars (upwards of £1D0,000) in gold ; and at the last general election in that State (in 1863), the citizens caused money-boxes to be placed along- side every electoral urn in their territory, and the result was an almost equal, additional sum.

" Fairs ^^ have lately been held in different sections of the country, and the proceeds de- voted towards defraying the expenses of the Commission's different Branch agencies. Such meetings having taken place at Chicago, Cin- cinnati, Albany, Buffalo^ Kochester, Cleveland,

77

Boston, Elmira, and "Washington. At Chicago, the net proceeds of the Fair (the first experiment of the kind) were upwards of 50,000 dollars; the total receipts of that held at Cincinnati were officially stated at 268,611 dollars; Brooklyn has just contributed in like manner over 400,000 dollars ; and the city of New York is about holding one this month, where, from the wealth of the inhabitants, and the long preparations, it is confidently expected that One Million of Dollars will be realized. But so widely-extended and multifarious are the operations of the Com- mission, that even these immense sums are insufficient to enable it to carry on its humane efi'orts with the freedom it desires.

78 A woman's example.

COST

OF THE

COMMISSION'S OPERATIONS.

The expense of carrying on a work of so great magnitude is a most important ques- tion.

It is a standing rule with the Commis- sion that its employees must be paid, both on the ground of justice and of expediency.

Waggons have had to be bought, ships to be chartered, horses and mules to be fed, rents of offices and warehouses to be paid.

Yet the entire cost of management is under three per cent, per annum,

or ITS INCOME.

There are no secrets with the Commis- sion. Its doors are always open to the public, and its books may be inspected by any who see fit.

CHAPTER X.

The Sanitary Commission of the United States has, from the outset, made no difference what- ever in its treatment of Federals or Confeder- ates. If a man be suffering, or in need of food or clothing, its Agents are under the most positive instructions never to ask whether he be friend or foe, but to look to his wants imme- diately. Times innumerable have I seen this fact exemplified in Virginia, and North and South Carolina; and I have even sometimes thought that a slight preference was shown by its agents to the Confederate sick and wounded.

At the terrible battle of Gettysburg (in Pennsylvania), fought on the 2nd and 3rd of July, 1863, upwards of 20,000 wounded re- mained on the field after General Lee's retreat. Of these, 7fi^0, in round numbers, were Con- federates, 5,452 of whom were treated by their own sui'geons in separate hospitals ; the

80

remainder being seen to with the Federal wounded. The duty of providing for the wants of the former was assigned by the Commission to one of its ablest agents, Dr. Gordon Win- slow : this gentleman writes as follows to the Associate Secretary, Dr. Douglas : —

" Gettysburg, July 22, 1863.

" Sir, — Agreeably to your instructions, I have inspected the several Confederate Hospitals in the vicinity of Gettysburg, and have indicated on the accompanying map the locality, division, General who was in command, surgeon in charge, and number of wounded.

" It appears that the aggregate of wounded, at the time of my visit, was 5,452, occupying some twenty-four (24) separate camps, over an area of some twelve miles. The wounds, in a large proportion of cases, are severe.

" Amputations and resection are frequent. The corps of Confederate Sm-geons are, as a body, intelligent and attentive. The hospitals are generally in bai-ns, out-houses, and dilapi- dated tents. Some few cases are in dwellings. I cannot speak favourably of their camp police. Often there is a de- plorable want of cleanliness ; especially in barns and out- houses, vermin and putx'id matter are disgustingly offensive. As fast as means of transportation can be had, those who are capable of being removed will be placed in more comfortable quai'ters. Some hundreds are being removed daily. Every provision is made by the Sanitaiy Commission for their com- fort during their stay at the Depot Lodge, and those who are placed directly in the cars are fimaished wholesome food. I am pleased to report that the surgeons have in every instance spoken in the highest terms of praise of the efforts made for their relief and comfort.

" Most respectfully,

" Gordon Wisslow, M.D.

The Commission's work, however, was not

81

confined merely to visiting and supplying hospitals : as usual after an engagement, it established kitchens and sleeping tents on the field, where the less grievously wounded might be attended to and fed until preparations were made to remove them. One of these " lodges," as they are termed by the Commission, was managed at Gettysburg by two ladies, and one of them wrote her experience of three weeks' duty on the occasion in question, which has since been published.* I propose to make a few extracts from this very interesting little tract. Here is a description of how pre- parations were made for the work before them : —

" On the day that the railway bridge was repaired we moved up to the depot, close by the town, and had things in perfect order ; first-rate camping ground, in a large field directly by the track, Mith unlimited supply of delicious, cool water. Here we set up two stoves with four large boilers, always kept full of soup and coffee, watched by four or five black men, who did the cooking under our direction, and sang (not under our direction) at the top of theu' voices all the day,

" Oh darkies hab you seen my massa"

" When this cruel war is over."

* Three n-eelis at Gettysburg. New York, Randolph, 1863. This was written as a private letter to a friend, and jiot in- tended for publication.

F

82 A woman's example.

(Two lines, by the way, of two different songSj but what would that matter to the darkies ?)

" Then we had three large hospital tents, holding about thirty-five each, a large camp-meeting supply-tent, where baiTels of goods were stored, and our own smaller tent fitted up Avith tables, where jelly-pots and bottles of all kinds of good syrups, blackberry and black cim'ant, stood in rows. Barrels were ranged round the tent walls ; shirts, drawers, dressing- gowns, socks and slippers (I wish we had more of the latter), rags and bandages, each in its own place, on one side ; on the other boxes of tea, coffee, soft crackers (biscuit), tamarinds, cheny-brandy, &c. Over the kitchen, and over this small supply-tent we women rather reigned, and filled up our wants by requisitions on the Commission's depot. By this time there had arrived a ' delegation' of just the right kind from CanandaigTia (New York), with surgeon di-essers and attendants, bringing a first-rate supply of necessities and com- forts for the wounded, wliich they handed over to the Com- mission." (Page 6.)

These preparations were soon needed. Fur- ther on the writer says : —

*' I do not think that a man of the 16,000, who were trans- ported during our stay, went from Gettysburg without a good meal — rebels and Unionists together, they all had it, and were pleased and satisfied. ' Have you friends in the army, madam?' a rebel soldier, lying on the floor of the car, said to me, as I gave him some milk. ' Yes, my brother is on

's staff.' ' I thought so, ma'am. You can always

tell; when people are good to soldiers they are sure to have fi-iends in the army.' 'We are rebels you know, ma'am,' another said; 'do you treat rebels soV It was strange to see the good brotherly feehng come over the soldiers, our own and the rebels, when side by side they lay in our tents. 'Hullo, boys! this is the pleasantest way to meet, isn't it? We are better friends when we are so close as this than a little

83

further off.' And then they would go over the battles to- gether : ' we were here,' and ' you were there/ in the friend- liest way." (Page 9.)

Here is a capital little touch of woman's sense of the ridiculous : —

" Few good things can be said of the Gettysburg farmers, and I only use Scripture language in calling them ' evil beasts.' One of tliis kind came creeping into our tent three weeks after the battle. He lived five miles only from the town, and had ' never seen a rebel.' He heard we had some of them, and came dowm to see them. ' Boys,' we said, marching him into the tent, which happened to be full of rebels that day waiting for the train; ' Boys, here's a man who never saw a rebel in his life, and wants to look at you ; ' and there he stood with his mouth wide open, and there they lay in rows, laughing at him, stupid old Dutchman.* ' And

why havn't you seen a rebel ?' Mrs. S. said ; ' why didn't

you take your gun and help to drive them out of yom- town ?' ' A feller might'er got hit ! ' which reply was too much for the rebels ; they roared with laughter at him, up and down the tent." (Page 13.)

The following recital is full of pathos : —

"Late one afternoon, too late for the cars, a train of am- bulances arrived at our Lodge with over one hundred wounded rebels, to be cared for through the night. Only one among them seemed too weak and faint to take anything. He was badly hurt and failing. I went to him after his wound was dressed, and found him lying on his blanket stretched over the straw — a fair-hau-cd, blue-eyed young lieutenant, a face inno- cent enough for one of our own New England boys. I could not think of him as a rebel ; he was too near heaven for that. He wanted nothing, had not been willing to eat for days, his

* The southern part of Pennsylvania was originally settled by the Dutch, and the farmers there still retain many of the old Dutch habits.

84

comrades said ; but I coaxed him to try a little milk gruel, made nicely with lemon and brandy, and one of the satisfac- tions of our three weeks is the remembrance of the empty cup I took away afterwards, and his perfect enjoyment of that supper, ' It was so good, the best thing he had had since he was wounded ;' and he thanked me so much, and talked about his ' good supper' for hours. Poor creature, he had had no care, and it was a surprise and pleasure to find himself thought of ; so in a pleased, x-hild-like way, he talked about it till midnight, the attendant told me, as long as he spoke of any- thing ; for at midnight the change came, and from that time he only thought of the old days before he was a soldier, when he sang hymns in his father's church. He sang them now again, in a clear, sweet voice. * Lord, have mercy upon me ;' and then songs without words in a sort of low intoning. His father was a Lutheran clergyman in South Carolina, one of the rebels told us in the morning, when we went into the tent, to find him sliding out of our care. All day long we watched him, sometimes fighting his battles over, oftener singing his Lutheran chants, till in at the tent door, close to which he lay, looked a rebel soldier, just arrived with other prisoners. He started when he saw the lieutenant, and quickly kneeling down by him, called 'Henry! Henry!' But Henry was looking at some one a great way off, and could not hear him. ' Do you know this soldier ?' we said. ' Oh, yes, ma'am, and his brother is wounded and a prisoner, too, in the cars now.' Two or three men started after him, found him, and half carried him from the cars to our tent. ' Henry' did not know him, though ; and he threw himself down by his side on the sti-aw, and for the rest of the day lay in a sort of apathy, without speaking, except to assure liimself that he could stay vdth his brother, without the risk of his being separated from his fellow-prisoners. And there the brothers lay, and there we strangers sat watching and listening to the strong, clear voice, singing, ' Lord, have mercy upon me.' The Lord had mercy, and at sunset I put my hand on the lieutenant's heart to find it still. All night the brother lay close against the coffin, and in the morning went away with his comrades, leaving us to bury Henry, having 'confidence,' but first thanking us for what we had done, and giving us all that he had to show his

A NATION^S WORK. 85

gratitude, the palmetto ornament from his brother's cap and

a button from his coat. Dr. W read the burial service

that morning at the grave, and wrote his name on the

little head-board: 'Lieu. Eauch, 14th Regt. S. Carolina Vol.'— (pp. 16, 17, 18.)

Towards the close of her letter, the writer makes this womanly appeal : —

" You will not, I am sure, regret that these most wretched men, these ' enemies,' * sick and in prison,' were helped and cared for through your supplies, though certainly, they were not in your minds when you packed your barrels and boxes. ***** It was curious to see, among our workers at the Lodge, the disgust and hon-or felt for rebels, giving place to the kindest feeling for wounded men." (Page 23.)

The Negroes, too, receive assistance from

the Commission, equally with the whites. The

writer gives an amusing description of some of

their '' goings-on/^

" In the field, where we buried him (the young lieutenant above referred to) a number of coloured freedmen, working for the Government on the railroad, had their camp, and eveiy night they took their recreation, after the hea\7- work of the day was over, in prayer meetings. Such an ' inferior race,' you know! We went over one night and listened for an hour, while they sang, collected under the fly of the tent, a table in the middle where the leader sat, and benches aU round the sides for the congregation, men only — all very black and veiy earnest. They prayed with all their souls, as only black men and slaves can; for themselves and for the dear, white people who had come over to the meeting, and for ' Massa Lincoln,' for whom they seemed to have a reverential affection, some of them a sort of worship, which confused Father Abra- ham and Massa Abraham in one general call for blessings. Whatever else they asked for, they must have strength and comfort and blessing for ' Massa Lincoln.' Very little care

86 A woman's example.

was taken of these poor men. Those who were ill, during our stay, were looked after by one of the officers of the Com- mission."

The Sanitary Commission has made the question of the coloured troops in the Federal army^ of whom there are now some 70,000, a special subject, and has also turned its atten- tion to the whole coloured population, — men, women, and children, — throughout the entire region under control of the Union forces. Did space permit, I might give a large amount of valuable and interesting information on this topic, involving the answer to that most im- portant question — " What is to be done with the Negroes ?'■*

If any further proof be necessary of the purely benevolent and humanitarian character of the operations of this Commission, we need only to examine the action of the Confederate Oovernment towards it. At the battle of Gettysburg, a waggon-load of the Commis- sion's stores, three of its agents, and a teamster and coloured driver were captured by the enemy's cavalry, and the men taken to Rich- mond as prisoners of war. Thereupon the Secretary of the Commission wrote to the Con-

A nation's wokk. 87

federate authorities, asking for " the release of its employees, not merely because they were non-combatants and engaged on an errand of mercy at the time, but on the broad, humani- tarian ground that the Sanitary Commission had never throughout the war made any dis- tinction in its benevolence between friend and foe." All the Confederate surgeons at that time prisoners in the Federal hands drew up and signed a memorial to their Secretary of War endorsing these statements ; and the result was the unconditional release of four of the prisoners, only the coloured driver being retained. The Commission did all in its power to procure the liberty of the poor fellow, but without success.

88 A WOMAN S EXAMPLE.

Conclusion.

Such are, curtly and most poorly told, tlie results of the labours of tlie Sanitary Com- mission of tlie United States. That Commis- sion has really been throughout this war the agent of the American people, who, to enable it to carry on its wonderful labour of love, have imposed upon themselves an enormous voluntary tax, ever increasing yet ever gladly given. Unfortunately, benevolence in this world is ofttimes limited in its action by inca- pacity of means, and the Committee is now making urgent appeals for additional support.

Shall such a noble undertaking fail^ after having achieved so much ? No appeal has ever yet been made by its managers to European nations, nor is any likely to come from them ; but is it right for us as men, children of a com- mon family ; is it right for us as Englishmen, brothers of the same race, to allow this noble work to fail for want of aid which we can offer? Thousands of the subjects of our beloved Queen are in the ranks of those contending

89

armies, and every nation in Europe has suffer- ing and wounded men there, who, like our own, are receiving the ever present ministra- tions of this untiring Commission. Can we — after America's beneficence to Ireland and Lancashire — can we refuse to lend a helping hand to a work so nobly instituted and so ably carried on ?

90

A WOMAN^S EXAMPLE.

OFFICEKS AND MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES

SANITARY COMMISSION.

Fresident.-ITEl^RY W. BELLOWS, D.D.

Vice-President.— A. D. BACHE, LL.D.

Treasurer.— GBORG'K T. STRONG, Esq.

General Secretary.— 3. FOSTER JEXKINS, M.D.

Associate Secretary for Bepartment of West.

J. S. NEWBERRY, M.D. Associate Secretary for Department of East.

E. N. KNAPP, Esq.

Associate Secretary and Chief of Inspection.

J. H. DOUGLAS, M.D.

Assistant Secretaries.

A. J. BLOOR, Esq., R. T. THORNE, Esq.

BEN J. COLLINS, Esq.

Actuary.— 'F.. B. ELLIOTT, Esq.

Accountayit and Superintendant of Hospital Directory.

JOHN BOWNE, Esq.

Members of the Commission.

H. W. BELLOWS, D.D.

A. D. BACHE, LL.D.

C. R. AGNEW, M.D.

HORACE BINNEY, Jun., Esq.

Hon. R. W. BURNETT.

Right Rev. Bp. CLARK, D.D.

WOLCOTT GIBBS, M.D.

ELISHA HARRIS, M.D.

Rev. J. H. HEYWOOD.

S. G. HOWE, M.D.

Hon. JOSEPH HOLT.

J. S. NEWBERRY, M.D.

FRED. LAW OLMSTED,

Esq. Professor FAIRMAN ROGERS.

A. E. SHIRAS, U.S.A. Hon. mark SKINNER.

GEORGE T. STRONG,

Esq.

W. H. VAN BUREN, M.D.

R. C. WOOD, M.D., U.S.A.

J. HUNTINGTON WOL- COTT, Esq.

C. J. STILLE, Esq.

J. B. McCAGG.

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